A lawsuit worth $82 million has sparked considerable debate among notable figures in the Formula 1 community, with Felipe Massa at its center. 16 years on, triggered by comments made by Bernie Ecclestone last year, Massa is challenging the aftermath of the 2008 ‘crashgate’ scandal, asserting that Renault’s intentional crash, orchestrated by Nelson Piquet Jr. during the Singapore Grand Prix, robbed him of the championship title that year, which Lewis Hamilton won.
“I hope he wins the case. So I get a chance as well,” remarked Heinz-Harald Frentzen, a former competitor in F1, during a discussion on X. He humorously added that he suspects illegal fuel usage by his 1997 Williams teammate, Jacques Villeneuve. “I am looking for a lawyer as well,” Frentzen quipped, later clarifying his jest.
Frentzen, aged 56, then adopted a more serious tone. “But to be serious this time,” he began, “my opinion is that the sport we love is as good as it is designed to be. The traditional rules are that two hours after official results are confirmed there is no chance to appeal. For the sake of simplicity. F1 is here for entertainment – at least that was my job description when I entered a foreign country at customs.”
Damon Hill, the 1996 world champion and another ex-Williams driver, also engaged in lighthearted commentary on the prospect of disputing a title years after the event. “Mate,” he joked with Frentzen on X, “if anyone tries to take Dad’s 1966 Indy away … I’ll sue them!” referring humorously to his father, Graham.
The conversation was initially sparked by a tweet from Matt Bishop, a former communications chief for McLaren and Aston Martin. “I think they indicate first that Damon and Heinz-Harald are both good sports, which we already knew, and secondly that not many F1 insiders think Felipe Massa is wise to be doing what he’s doing. Ditto,” Bishop assessed.
Rob Smedley, who was Massa’s race engineer at the time, agreed with David Coulthard, who suggested that Massa should move past the events of 2008, highlighting the unpredictable nature of racing as dictated by the “racing gods.” “He’s one of my best mates,” Smedley shared on the Formula For Success podcast, advocating for personal freedom in such legal pursuits. “My opinion of it is I’m somebody who never looks back. My view is it would have been great to have won the 2008 world championship in 2008. We didn’t. Lewis won it. That’s racing,” he reflected.
GMM
